Scottish GP care rated highly

Findings from an extensive national survey have revealed that some 90% of patients rated the care that they received at GP practices in Scotland as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

The results of the Scottish 2009/10 GP Patient Experience Survey, which included responses from 185,989 people, have been released by the Scottish government.

The postal survey was sent to a random sample of people who were registered as GP patients in Scotland, seeking their views of the care they received and posing questions about their experience of accessing their GP practice, making an appointment, visiting reception, seeing either a nurse and/or doctor at the surgery, receiving prescribed medicine and care provided overall by the practice.

The majority of patients (84%) with a preferred doctor were usually able to see the doctor they wanted to see.

Nurses were also rated very highly by patients and 93% strongly agreed or agreed that ‘the nurse talks in a way that helps me understand my condition and treatment’.

Minister for public health Shona Robison said: “These survey results show that the vast majority of patients are satisfied with the care their GP practices provide and I would like to pay tribute to staff who are working hard to ensure patients receive the best standards across the health service.”

Deputy chairman of the BMA’s Scottish GP committee Dr Andrew Buist said the results were “testimony” to the hard work of GPs and their practice teams across Scotland.